Sheet transfer for bronzing machines



Sept. 7, 1937. F. R. BLELLUCHE SHEET TRANSFER FOR BRONZING MACHINESFiled Dec. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 7, 1937. F R BELLUCHE I2,092,568 A SHEET TRANSFER FOR BRONZING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21. 1935' 2Sheets-Sheet 2 E'iiY/f E BA /bah;

Patented Sept". 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcF.

SHEET TRANSFER FOR BRONZING MACHINES This'invention relates to printingmachinery and refers particularly to bronzing machines. In

bronzing machines of the type shown in Patent I No. 1,869,403 issued toFrank R. Belluche August 2, 1932, the work is carried through themachine successively on a work cylinder generally referred to as thebronzing cylinder and a delivery cylinder. From the delivery cylinder,the completed sheets are received by a suitable delivery mechanism.

In the past difiiculty has been experienced in transferring the sheetfrom the bronzing cylinder to the delivery cylinder. The sheettransferring mechanism of the aforementioned patent provided asubstantial improvement over past constructions, but even with thisimprovement the transfer of the sheet from the bronzing cylinder to thedelivery cylinder was not completely satisfactory. The objection to thesheet transferring mechanism shown in the aforementioned patent residedin the fact that the bar used to hold the sheet againstthe bronzingcylinder during the interval in the transfer when the grippers of Ineither cylinder held the sheet, formed objectionable impressions in thebronzed surface.

. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide improved meansfor holding the sheet onto the bronzing cylinder during the actualtransfer thereof to the delivery cylinder, which means is so constructedas to entirely obviate the objectionable formation of marks on thebronzed surface by the elimination of all pressure applying means actingon the bronzed surface of the sheet. To this end, the bronzing cylinderis providedwith a friction surface to which the sheet will adhere duringthe actual transfer from one cylinder tothe other. r

It is also. an object of this invention to provide an improvedconstruction for the grippers and an improved manner of mounting thegrippers on theirrrespective cylinders so as to facilitate attachmentand detachment thereof when necessary.

x .With the above and other" objects in view which will appear asthe'des'cription proceeds,

this invention resides in the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described andmoreparticu- 'larly defined by theappended claims, it being understoodthat such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosedinvention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of thephysicalembodiment of theinvention constructed according to the best mode so fardevised for thepractical application of the principles thereof, and inwhich:

Figure l is a side View of a bronzing machine embodying this invention,parts thereof being broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section view through the two cylinders showingthe manner in which the sheet is transferred from one to the other;

Figure 3 is a view taken on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2, saidview showing the bronzing cylinder and having parts broken away toillustrate structural details; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end portion of thefriction covering for the bronzing cylinder illustrating its manner ofattachment.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings in which likenumerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5represents the frame of a conventional bronzing machine having abronzing cylinder 6 and a delivery cylinder 1.

As is customary in bronzing machines of this type, the work is carriedinto the machine on a conveyer 8 and clamped to the bronzing cylinderby. grippers, indicated generally by the numeral 9, so as to travel withthe bronzing cylinder under a dusting roll II). The dusting roll l5)deposits bronze powder from a fountain or magazine I! onto the surfaceof the sheet to be rubbed into the surface of the sheet by a rubbing padl2. Cleaning rolls I3 brush off the excess powder, which is carried awaypneumatically.

Both cylinders have longitudinal grooves or channels I4 in which theirgripper mechanism is located. The gripper mechanisms, indicatedgenerally by the numeral I5, are alike in both cylinders. They compriselongitudinal bars or rails l6 extending along one side of the groove orchannel I4, and mounted therein to rock on their longitudinal axes. Thespecific manner in which the bars I6 are mounted forms no part of thisinvention.

Attached to one face of each bar It is a longitudinally extending stripH to which the gripper fingers 9 are directly attached. So that theindividual gripper fingers may be readily detached, they are held inplace by spring urged cross pieces or arms l8 in a manner such that eacharm holds two gripper fingers. The cross pieces I8 are. secured to thestrip l I by screws or pins l9 which have springs 20 mounted thereon andinterposed between their heads and the arms I8 so as to yieldably urgethe arms toward the grippers and thereby hold the same against the stripil Mounted on the bar it between the extreme inner ends of the gripperfingers and the bars is are knife edges 21 which coact with the springurged arms 98 to properly position the gripper fingers and providefulcrums about which the fingers may rock.

The outer ends of the gripper fingers are curved as shown and have sheetengaging hooks 22 adapted to project through the large part of T-shapedslots 28 formed in a bar 24S secured to each cylinder adjacent one sideof the longitudinal groove or channel M. Through the coaction betweenthe outer ends of the grippers 22 and the edges of the smaller parts ofthe T-shaped slots iii-i, the sheets are held in place, the springs Ellallowing the fingers to act independently and compensating for differentpaper thicknesses.

The outer surfaces of the bar E i are curved to continue the curvatureof the cylinders, and cooperating with the bar 24 in closing thechannels i iare curved cover plates 35 which, like the bar 2 formsubstantially continuations of the cylindrical surfaces of thecylinders. The cover plates 25 are removably secured in position byscrews 2 3.

The surfaces of the cylinders are thus substantially unbroken, the onlyopenings visible being a portion of the T-shaped slots 28 through whichthe outer ends of the gripper fingers project to act on and grip thesheets of paper. It is of course understood that the grippers on onecylindeer are staggered with respect to those of the other, or in otherwords, are interposed between those of the other.

To open and close the grippers, the longitudinal bars l8 are rocked ontheir axes by means of cams at the ends of the cylinders, one of whichis shown in Figure 3 at 21.

Tracking on these cams are rollers 28 carried by arms attached to theshafts which mount the bars l6, and to hold these rollers 28 onto theearns 27, compression springs 29 are provided. The cams are so timed asto properly open their respective grippers to effect the transfer of thesheet from the bronzing cylinder to the delivery cylinder, and also toopen the grippers on the bronzing cylinder in time to receive the sheetsbeing fed into the machine, and to open the grippers on the deliverycylinder in time to discharge the sheets onto the delivery mechanism,not shown.

During the transfer of the sheet from the bronzing cylinder to thedelivery cylinder, the grippers on the bronzing cylinder open first andshooflies 30 formed on the grippers 9 and taking up the space providedby the small parts of the T-shaped slots 23 push the adjacent leadingedge of the sheet away from the bronzing cylinder toward the deliverycylinder into position to be gripped by the grippers on the deliverycylinder as clearly shown in Figure 2.

As will be readily apparent, for a slight interval during the transferof the sheets, they are not held by either set of grippers. Thiscondition is illustrated in Figure 2. During this interval, unless someother means is provided to hold the sheets, they may be pulled out ofposition by the cleaning rolls. Some means must therefore be provided tohold the sheets during this period of transfer, and heretofore, the bestmeans provided for this purpose involved pressure applying mechanism bywhich the sheet was forcibly held against the bronzing cylinder. Theaforesaid Patent No. 1,869,403 is an example of such past constructions.Pressing the sheet against the bronzing cylinder necessitated engagingthe bronzed surface of the finished sheets and this resulted in theformation of objectionable marks in the bronzed surface.

The present invention obviates this objectionable feature of pastconstructions by holding the sheet onto the bronzing cylinder byfriction so that only the back of the sheet is engaged. To this end thebronzing cylinder has its surface covered with a suitable frictionmaterial 3 I, preferably cork. One edge of the sheet of cork is securelyglued or otherwise attached to a strip 32 mounted in a recess in the bar24 carried by the bronzing cylinder. In this manner, one edge of thecork sheet is securely anchored to the bronzing cylinder adjacent oneside of the longitudinal groove or channel Hi.

The other longitudinal edge of the cork covering is clamped betweenstrips 34. These strips 34 together form a rigid bar which is mounted ina narrow groove 35 adjacent the groove or channel l4. Adjusting screws36 threaded into the bottom of the groove 35 and having octangularenlargements 3'! formed on their headed. ends and bearing on the outerface of the bar 34| provide convenient means for tensioning the corkcovering. It will be seen that at all times one of the flat faces of theenlargements 31 will be in engagement with a side of the groove 35 toprevent the screw from turning. However, when adjustment is necessary,the screw is bent away from that side of the groove sufiiciently to turn,the screw. When the desired adjustment has been achieved, the screwsprings back into its original position and again one of the flat facesof the enlargements 3'! will engage the side of the groove to preventturning of the screw. The groove 35 and the adjusting screws 36 are allcovered by the cover plate 25.

In practice, it has been found that a cork facing of the properthickness securely holds the sheets during their transfer from thebronzing cylinder to the delivery cylinder and thus obviates thenecessity for all other holding devices that might have an objectionablemarking effect on the bronzed surface.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, thatthis invention provides simple and effective means for insuring propersheet transfer from one cylinder to the other, and particularly from thebronzing cylinder to the delivery cylinder of a bronzing machine, bywhich objectionable markings on the bronzed surface are entirelyobviated, and that the manner of mounting the grippers provided hereinmakes their attachment and detachment a simple matter.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a pair of cylinders having grippers adapted toclamp a sheet thereto whereby the sheet is movable therewith, means foractuating said grippers to transfer the sheet from one cylinder to theother, and means on one of the cylinders for holding the sheet theretoby frictional engagement with the sheet during the actual transfer ofthe sheet from said cylinder to the other cylinder.

2. In a printing machine having a pair of cylinders arranged tosuccessively carry a sheet through the machine, grippers on thecylinders to clamp the sheet thereto, means for actuating the grippersso as to effect a transfer of the sheet from one cylinder to the other,and means on the first designated cylinder to cause the sheet tofrictionally adhere thereto during the actual transfer from saidcylinder to the other cylinder at which time the grippers of neithercylinder hold the sheet.

3. In a bronzing machine having a bronzing cylinder and a deliverycylinder adapted to successively carry sheets through the machine andhaving means to apply bronze to the sheets while carried by the bronzingcylinder, grippers on the cylinders adapted to hold the sheets thereto,means for opening the grippers and for effecting a transfer of thesheets from the bronzing cylinder to the delivery cylinder, and meanscarried by the bronzing cylinder to engage only the back of the sheetfor frictionally holding the sheet to the bronzing cylinder during itstransfer to the delivery cylinder at which time the grippers of neithercylinder hold the sheet.

4. In a bronzing machine having a bronzing cylinder and a deliverycylinder adapted to successively carry a sheet through the machine andhaving means for depositing bronze onto the sheet while on the bronzingcylinder, grippers carried by the cylinders adapted to clamp the sheetthereto, means to actuate the grippers so as to effect a transfer of thesheet from the bronzing cylinder to the delivery cylinder, andreplaceable friction means on the bronzing cylinder engaging only theback of the sheet to cause the sheet to adhere to the bronzing cylinderduring the transferring interval at which time the grippers of neithercylinder hold the sheet.

5. In combination with a pair of cylinders in rolling engagement andadapted to successively carry a sheet, grippers on the cylinders toclamp the sheet thereto, means for actuating the grippers toefifect atransfer of the sheet from one cylinder to the other, a surface coveringof material having a high coefficient of friction on the cylinder whichfirst carries the sheet whereby the sheet is held frictionally on saidcylinder during the transferring interval when the grippers of neithercylinder hold the sheet.

6. In combination with a pair of cylinders in rolling engagement andadapted to successively carry a sheet, grippers on the cylinders toclamp the sheet thereto, means for actuating the grippers to effect atransfer of the sheet from one cylinder to the other, and a covering ofsheet cork having a high coefficient of friction on the cylinder whichfirst carries the sheet whereby the sheet is held frictionally on saidcylinder during the transferring interval when the grippers of neithercylinder hold the sheet.

7. A bronzing cylinder for bronzing machines and the like adapted tocarry sheets to be bronzed, said cylinder having a longitudinal groovein its surface, grippers mounted within said groove with the outer endsthereof projecting therefrom to grip and clamp a sheet to the cylinder,a surface covering for the cylinder of material having a highcoefficient of friction, means disposed in said longitudinal groove forholding said covering snugly about the cylinder, and means to close thegroove and form substantially'a continuation of the cylindrical surfaceof said covered cylinder.

8. In a bronzing machine, a bronzing cylinder adapted to carry sheets tobe bronzed, said cylinder having a longitudinal groove opening to itscylindrical surface, grippers disposed within the groove and havingouter end portions projectible from the groove to clamp a sheet to thecylinder, a sheet of cork encircling the cylinder with its longitudinaledges adjacent the sides of the groove, means on said longitudinal edgesof the cork sheet and disposed within said longitudinal groove forholding the cork sheet on the cylinder, and cover means for thelongitudinal groove enclosing the grippers and forming substantially acontinuation of the cylindrical surface of the covered cylinder.

9. In a bronzing machine, a bronzing cylinder adapted to carry sheets tobe bronzed, said cylinder having a longitudinal groove opening to itscylindrical surface, grippers disposed within the groove and adapted toclampa sheet to the cylinder, a sheet of flexible material having a highcoefficient of friction wrapped about the cylinder with its longitudinaledges adjacent the sides of the groove, means at one side edge of thegroove to which the adjacent longitudinal edge of said friction sheet ispermanently secured to be fixedly secured to the cylinder, meansattached to the other longitudinal edge of the friction sheet andrecessed into the cylinder adjacent the other side of its longitudinalgroove, adjustable tensioning means engaging said last named meanswhereby the sheet may be drawn taut about the cylinder, and a coverclosing the longitudinal groove and covering the grippers and saidadjustting means, said cover having its outer surface shaped to formsubstantially a continuation of the cylindrical outer surface of thecovered cylinder.

FRANK R. BELLUCHE.

